Leg exercise device

ABSTRACT

The leg exercise device of the present invention is provided a base assembly for supporting an adjustable handle assembly and a footplate support assembly. The handle assembly has a pair of tubular support members secured at a lower end adjacent the center of the base assembly at an angle between 45 degrees and 90 degrees. The handle assembly also includes a U-shaped handle bar having a pair of arms that are telescopically received within the tubular support members, and locking for adjustably securing the handle bar to the tubular support members. A footplate support assembly is secured to the tubular support members for rotatably supporting two footplates for independent pivotal movement on an axis above the center of the base assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to exercising devices and moreparticularly to an exercising device for stretching the Achilles tendon,calf and extensor muscles of the leg.

2. Description of the Related Art

Many devices are known in the prior art for exercising the leg musclesby repeated bending or flexing of the ankle joints. In U.S. Pat. No.4,270,749 issued Jun. 2, 1981 to Hebern a device is taught thatexercises the leg muscles to improve circulation without requiringexcessive exertion.

The Hebern device has a parallelepiped frame defining a stall and aplanar treadle mounted on the stall for rocking movement about ahorizontal axis extending transversely of the stall in the lower portionof the stall. The treadle includes a metallic plate welded to a metallictube. The ends of the tube fit within bushings on mounting brackets forpivotal or rocking movement about the axis of the tube. A user stands onthe treadle and rocks the treadle about the axis by bending of the anklejoints. The Hebern device is directed at people who are basicallyhealthy and to those who may be crippled and requiring propercirculation in the legs with very little exertion. However, the deviceof Hebern does not allow the exercising of each leg individually as inthe case where only one leg has suffered an injury.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,518,476 issued May 21, 1996 to McLeon teaches a triplanefoot and biplane ankle exercise apparatus and method for exercising thesubtalar complex with controlled triplaner motion. The device includes astanding platform and a detachable adjustable handrail assembly inassociation with a rotatable footplate wherein the footplate iscontrollable and adjustable in three planes with fixed setting in allplanes including the oblique. The handrail assembly includes a U-shapedtubular member that telescopes over two intermediate tubular members.Spring biased push buttons are provide on the intermediate members formating alignment with a series of handrail holes for adjusting thehandrail to a persons height. The McLeon device does not address thestretching of the Achilles tendon, calf and extensor muscles of the leg.

In U.S. Pat. No. 5,851,166 issued Dec. 22, 1998 to Bernardson, a lowerextremity rehabilitation and toning exercise apparatus and method aretaught. The apparatus incorporates one or two centrally pivoted pedalsmounted upon a base. The pedals are mounted in a position facilitatingthe placement of the feet of a user upon the pedals while seated in achair. Rocking the pedals with the foot positioned upon them provides asoothing tension relieving motion that will maintain the tone of themuscles of the legs and improve blood circulation in the feet and legs.The apparatus of Bernardson is designed for use in a seated position soas not to injure previously injured muscles or ligaments.

Athletes and officials of athletic competitions generally adopt warm-upand stretching routines prior to the start of the contest. This usuallyincludes calisthenics and individual stretching routines such as sittingon the ground and touching your toes and/or pulling on the toes tostretch the back and Achilles tendon. Heretofore, none of the prior artfoot and leg exercising devices provided for warm-up exercisesstretching the Achilles tendon, calf and extensor muscles of the leg.

None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or incombination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thusa leg exercise device solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The leg exercise device according to the present invention comprises abase assembly for supporting an adjustable handle assembly and afootplate support assembly. The base assembly is provided in the form anelongated left rail, an elongated right rail, a front base bar and arear base bar connected end to end forming a rectangular structure forsafely supporting the leg exercise device on any flat surface.

The handle assembly has a pair of tubular support members secured at alower end adjacent the center of the rails of the base assembly at anangle between 45 degrees and 90 degrees toward the forward ends of therails. The handle assembly also includes a U-shaped handle bar having apair of arms that are telescopically received within the tubular supportmembers. Means are provided at the top of the tubular support membersand on the distal end portions of the arms of the U-shaped handle foradjustably securing the handle bar to the tubular support members. Anelongated flat plate is secured by respective ends to the top portion ofthe tubular support members forming a knee rest and brace forstabilizing the tubular support members in parallel alignment.

A footplate support assembly is secured to the tubular support membersfor rotatably supporting the weight of an individual upon the twofootplates for independent pivotal movement of the footplates about anaxis above the center of the base assembly. The handle allow a personusing the leg exercise device to easily position themselves in acomfortable stance upon the footplates with the weight of the personbalanced above the axis of the footplates.

In this position, the weight of the person may be controllably shiftedtoward the toes to obtain an extensor muscle stretch or shifted towardthe heels to obtain a calf muscle and Achilles tendon stretch. Rockingback and forth in this manner also warms up the ankle and improvescirculation to the legs and foot for rehabilitation of injured orpainful Achilles tendon, extensor muscle or calf muscles. The knee guardallows a person to obtain maximum stability when accessing a fullextensor muscle stretch.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a legexercise device for improved and maximized stretch of the Achillestendon, extensor and calf muscles prior to engagement in athleticactivities.

It is another object of the invention to provide a leg exercise devicesuitable for rehabilitation of injured or painful Achilles tendons,extensor and calf muscles.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a leg exercise devicewhich limits the stretch without forcing, so that muscles can be stretchusing an individual's own weight one leg at a time or both legssimultaneously.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a leg exercisedevice having a knee guard or knee rest that allows an individual toobtain maximum stability so as to encourage full stretch of the extensormuscle.

It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements andarrangements thereof for the purposes described which is inexpensive,dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.

These and other objects of the present invention will become readilyapparent upon further review of the following specification anddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a leg exercise deviceaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the leg exercise device according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the footplate of the leg exercise deviceaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a back view of the leg exercise device according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 is a view of the footplate support assembly according to thepresent invention taken at 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a view of the footplate assembly according to the presentinvention taken at 6-6 of FIG. 4.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistentlythroughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Looking first at FIG. 1, the present invention is a leg exercise device200 that comprises a base assembly 300 for supporting an adjustablehandle assembly 500 and a footplate support assembly 400. The baseassembly 300 is provided in the form an elongated left rail 301, anelongated right rail 302, a front base bar 307 and a rear base bar 308all formed of steel and connected end to end by welding or othersuitable means. As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, the rails 301,302 areL-shaped in cross-sections with rail 301 having sidewall 303 and bottomwall 304 and rail 302 having a sidewall 304 and a bottom wall 306. Theends of base bar 307 are secured to the front ends 309 of rails 301 and302 and the ends of base bar 308 are secured to rear end 310 of rails301 and 302 to form a rectangular structure that safely supports the legexercise device 200 on any flat surface.

The handle assembly 500 has a pair of tubular support members 401 and402 secured at lower ends 409 adjacent the center of the rails 301 and302, respectively of the base assembly 300. Support members 401 and 402are attached at an angle between 45 degrees and 90 degrees toward thefront ends 309 of the rails 301 and 302, respectively. The handleassembly 500 also includes a U-shaped handle bar having a handle 501forming the base of the U and pair of arms 502 and 503 that aretelescopically received within the tubular support members 501 and 402,respectively. Locking means are provided at the top of the tubularsupport members 401 and 402 and on the distal end portions of the arms502 and 503 of the U-shaped handle for adjustably securing the handlebar to the tubular support members 401 and 402.

The locking means is provided in the form of aligned apertures 403 and404 at the upper open end 407 of tubular support members 401 and 402, aplurality of aligned apertures 506 on end portions 504 and 505 arms 502and 503, respectively. An elongated flat plate 408 has ends secured tothe top portions of the tubular support members forming a knee rest andbrace for stabilizing the tubular support members 401 and 402 inparallel alignment. Pegs 405 and 406 cooperate with the alignedapertures of the tubular members 401 and 402 and the aligned apertures506 of the arms 502 and 503, respectively to lock the handle assembly500 at various heights suitable for different people.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the footplate support assembly comprises flatelongated metal footplates 421 sized to fit a range of shoe sizes. Theforward end 428 of the footplates have a toe stop in the form of a metalbar 424 secured thereto and the rear end of the plates 421 have a heelstop 425 secured thereto. Stops 424 and 425 are secured to the top face422 of footplates 421 and 422 by welding or any suitable means. Non skidstrips 426 and 427 are adhesively secured to top face 422 of foot plates421 adjacent the front 428 and rear 429 ends of the footplates 421. Atubular metal sleeve 430 having a longitudinal slot is attached bywelding or other suitable means to the center of the bottom face 423 offootplates 421 transverse the longitudinal axis of the footplates 421.The sleeves 430 of footplates 421 are rotatably received around a steelaxle rod 420.

Turning now to FIGS. 4-6, a first axle support brace is provided in theform of a metal block 310 is attached on one side by welding or othersuitable means to the lower end of tubular support member 401. A slot412 opens on the top end 414 and side opposite the attached side ofblock 410 for rotatably receiving one end of the axle rod 420. A secondaxle support brace is provided in the form of a metal block 411 isattached on one side by welding or other suitable means to the lower endof tubular support member 402. A bore 413 is provided adjacent the topend 414 of block 411 on the side opposite the attached side of block 411for rotatably receiving the second end of the axle rod 420. Blocks 410and 411 are attached to the tubular support members 401 and 402,respectively so as to be perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of rails301 and 302. The bottom ends of blocks 410 and 411 engage the top edge311 of rails 301 and 302 to firmly support the axle rod 420 andfootplates over the center of the base assembly 300 for rotatablysupporting the weight of an individual upon two footplates.

The handle 501 allow a person using the leg exercise device 200 toeasily position themselves in a comfortable stance upon the footplates421 with the weight of the person balanced above the axis of thefootplates 421.

In a variation of the preferred embodiment of the invention, the lowerends of tubular support members 401 and 402 are pivotally mounted tosidewalls 303 and 305 of rails 301 and 302, respectively by any suitablepivot connection. This pivotal arrangement allows the handle assembly500 to be pivoted downwardly to a compact storage position.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to theembodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodimentswithin the scope of the following claims.

1. A leg exercise device, comprising: a pair of footplates; a footplatesupport assembly for rotatably supporting said pair of footplates on anaxis; an adjustable handle assembly for assisting a user to positionthemselves in a comfortable stance upon said footplates with the weightof the user balanced above said axis; and a base assembly for supportingsaid footplate support assembly and said adjustable handle assembly. 2.The leg exercise device according to claim 1, wherein said base assemblyis provided in the form an elongated left rail, an elongated right rail,a front base bar and a rear base bar connected end to end forming arectangular structure for safely supporting the leg exercise device onany flat surface.
 3. The leg exercise device according to claim 1,wherein said handle assembly includes a first tubular support member anda second tubular support member, said support members being secured at alower end on opposite sides of said base assembly adjacent the center ofsaid base assembly, said support members being secured at an anglebetween 45 degrees and 90 degrees toward a forward end of said baseassembly.
 4. The leg exercise device according to claim 3, wherein saidhandle assembly further includes a U-shaped handle bar having a firstarm telescopically received within an upper end of said first tubularsupport member and a second arm telescopically received within an upperend of said second tubular support member.
 5. The leg exercise deviceaccording to claim 4, wherein said handle assembly further includesmeans provided at said upper end of said tubular support members and ondistal end portions of said arms of said U-shaped handle for adjustablysecuring said distal end portions of said arms within said tubularsupport members.
 6. The leg exercise device according to claim 5,wherein said handle assembly further includes an elongated flat platesecured at one end to an exterior portion of said upper end of saidfirst tubular support member and secured at a second end to an exteriorportion of said upper end of said second tubular support member, saidelongated flat plate forming a knee rest and brace for stabilizing saidtubular support members in parallel alignment.
 7. The leg exercisedevice according to claim 5, wherein said footplate support assembly issecured to said tubular support members for rotatably supporting theweight of an individual upon said footplates for independent pivotalmovement about said axis and above the center of said base assembly. 8.The leg exercise device according to claim 6, wherein said footplatesupport assembly is secured to said tubular support members forrotatably supporting the weight of an individual upon said footplatesfor independent pivotal movement about said axis and above the center ofsaid base assembly.
 9. The leg exercise device according to claim 2,wherein said left and right rails are L-shaped in cross-section.
 10. Theleg exercise device according to claim 9, wherein said rails and saidbars are formed of steel and are connected by welding.
 11. A legexercise device, comprising: a pair of footplates; a footplate supportassembly for rotatably supporting said pair of footplates on an axis; anadjustable handle assembly for assisting a user to position themselvesin a comfortable stance upon said footplates with the weight of the userbalanced above said axis; and a base assembly is provided in the form anelongated left rail, an elongated right rail, a front base bar and arear base bar connected end to end forming a rectangular structure forsafely supporting the leg exercise device on any flat surface, saidhandle assembly includes a first tubular support member and a secondtubular support member, said support members being secured at a lowerend on opposite sides of said base assembly adjacent the center of saidright and left rails, said support members being secured at an anglebetween 45 degrees and 90 degrees toward a forward end of said baseassembly, said base assembly supporting said footplate support assemblyand said adjustable handle assembly.
 12. The leg exercise deviceaccording to claim 11, wherein said left and right rails are L-shaped incross-section.
 13. The leg exercise device according to claim 12,wherein said rails and said bars are formed of steel and are connectedby welding.
 14. The leg exercise device according to claim 13, whereinsaid handle assembly further includes a U-shaped handle bar having afirst arm telescopically received within an upper end of said firsttubular support member and a second arm telescopically received withinan upper end of said second tubular support member.
 15. The leg exercisedevice according to claim 14, wherein said handle assembly furtherincludes means provided at said upper end of said tubular supportmembers and on distal end portions of said arms of said U-shaped handlefor adjustably securing said distal end portions of said arms withinsaid tubular support members.
 16. The leg exercise device according toclaim 15, wherein said handle assembly further includes an elongatedflat plate secured at one end to an exterior portion of said upper endof said first tubular support member and secured at a second end to anexterior portion of said upper end of said second tubular supportmember, said elongated flat plate forming a knee rest and brace forstabilizing said tubular support members in parallel alignment.
 17. Theleg exercise device according to claim 16, wherein said footplatesupport assembly is secured to said tubular support members forrotatably supporting the weight of an individual upon said footplatesfor independent pivotal movement about said axis and above the center ofsaid base assembly.
 18. A leg exercise device, comprising: a pair ofelongated metal footplates adapted to fit a range of shoe sizes, eachfootplate having a toe stop in the form of a metal bar and a heel stopin the form of a metal bar secured by welding onto a top face of saidfootplate adjacent a front and rear end, respectively of said plate,non-skid strips adhesively secured to said top face of said footplates,and a tubular metal sleeve having a longitudinal slot is attached bywelding to the center of a bottom face of footplates transverse alongitudinal axis of said footplates for rotatably supporting said pairof footplates upon an axle rod; said footplate support assemblyincluding a first axle support brace in the form of a metal block havinga slot opens on a top end of said block and along a side of said blockfor rotatably receiving one end of said axle rod, a second axle supportbrace is provided in the form of a metal block having a bore adjacent atop end of said block facing said slot for rotatably receiving a secondend of said axle rod, said blocks; an adjustable handle assembly forassisting a user to position themselves in a comfortable stance uponsaid footplates with the weight of the user balanced above said axlerod; and a base assembly for supporting said footplate support assemblyand said adjustable handle assembly.
 19. The leg exercise deviceaccording to claim 18, wherein said base assembly is provided in theform of an elongated left rail, an elongated right rail, a front basebar and a rear base bar connected end to end forming a rectangularstructure for safely supporting the leg exercise device on any flatsurface; said handle assembly includes a first tubular support memberand a second tubular support member, said support members being securedat a lower end on opposite sides of said base assembly adjacent thecenter of said right and left rails, said support members being securedat an angle between 45 degrees and 90 degrees toward a forward end ofsaid base assembly; and said blocks are attached to said tubular supportmembers perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said rails so thatbottom ends of said blocks engage a top edge said rails to firmlysupport said axle rod and footplates over the center of said baseassembly.
 20. The leg exercise device according to claim 19, whereinsaid handle assembly includes: a U-shaped handle bar having a first armtelescopically received within an upper end of said first tubularsupport member and a second arm telescopically received within an upperend of said second tubular support member; means provided at said upperend of said tubular support members and on distal end portions of saidarms of said U-shaped handle for adjustably securing said distal endportions of said arms within said tubular support members; and anelongated flat plate secured at one end to an exterior portion of saidupper end of said first tubular support member and secured at a secondend to an exterior portion of said upper end of said second tubularsupport member, said elongated flat plate forming a knee rest and bracefor stabilizing said tubular support members in parallel alignment.